By BEN WILLCOCKS, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Published: 11:46 EST, 12 December 2025 | Updated: 11:46 EST, 12 December 2025
A Liverpool supporter has reportedly been charged over allegations of tragedy chanting during Leeds United's 3-3 draw with the Reds last Saturday.
Nicholas Harper, 25, faces a section five public order offence and has been bailed to appear at Leeds Magistrates Court on January 5, 2026.
The supporter, who is from the Sefton area of Merseyside, was charged over the alleged use of threating or abuse words ad behavior, or disorderly conduct likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, according to The Athletic.
Sources familiar with the case have told the outlet that the alleged offence is related to tragedy chanting during the high-scoring draw.
The thrilling match at Elland Road, which ended with Leeds star Ao Tanaka netting a 96th minute equaliser for the hosts, was marred by unsavory behaviour from both sets of fans.
Sections of the home support were heard chanting 'always the victims' at Liverpool's travelling fans and team during the match.
A Liverpool fan has been charged over 'tragedy chanting' during the Reds' 3-3 draw at Leeds
The thrilling match ended with Ao Tanaka scoring a last-gasp equaliser for the hosts (above)
It came less than a year after Leeds condemned the ‘vile’ tragedy chants aimed at their supporters by sections of the Millwall fanbase during their FA Cup fourth-round tie at Elland Road in February.
Since 2023, when the Crown Prosecution Service updated its guidance on football-related offences, tragedy chanting has been prosecutable as a public order offence.
A Manchester United supporter was slapped with a football banning order and was forced to pay £1,205 in fines in April 2024 for directing Hillsborough-related chants at Liverpool fans during their FA Cup quarter-final defeat against the Red Devils.
The two Premier League clubs announced in March last year that their club's foundations had initiated a joint programme to combat tragedy chanting in football, relating in particular to Hillsborough and the Munich Air disaster.
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